Working 9-5 and volunteering after that

The lawn and reflection pond in front of City Hall
is at the bottom,  some of the artists' tents and trees
are in the middle, and Houston skyscrapers at the
top of the photo. Taken during BCAF DT 2013.

I know people must get tired of reading about my busy days, but that's what I'm living right now. I'm still doing wrap-up meetings for Bayou City Festival and already planning for the 2014 festivals.

My day today was also filled with paying work, which is always a good thing. My Tuesday client is usually about five hours, but today in was eight full hours and a to-do list came home with me. I count four events I'm organizing between now and the end of the month. And tonight I went to a meeting about another volunteer project that I'm involved with in April 2014.

Today I'm creating three invitations, several planning meetings and writing e-blasts that will go out tomorrow and Wednesday. It was a busy, but fulfilling and productive day.

Wrapping up loose ends

Due to rain, the Bayou City unLIMITed stage didn't get the
attendance we hoped for, but the ducks who live in Sam
Houston Park were out, checking the crowd and looking for food.

I got home last night around 6:30 p.m., ate dinner while watching the Amazing Race and The Good Wife, and fell asleep somewhere in the middle of The Mentalist. After several stressful weeks and unbelievable busy days before and during Bayou City Art Festival, I needed lots of rest last night as did our hardworking staff and volunteers.

My only wish is that there were better results from the festival. We have had one rainy day at the festivals before, but never two days of rain. Needless to say, since we make a great deal of our money on admission and drink sales during the festival, our financial results won't be good. But the good news is that I've already had one wrap-up meeting this week and will have two more before the week is over. While some people are putting the finishing touches to last weekend's festival, many more are already in the planning stages for the 2014 Bayou City Art Festival in Memorial Park on March 28-30, 2014.

Today I'm creating time for final proofing of a brochure, but mostly taking it easy. This aging body doesn't getup and go like it used to do!

Ouch!

The city skyscrapers dwarf the tents of BCAF!

My feet are killing me after a day and night at Bayou City Art Festival. The rain came and went. We hope it went away for the weekend.

I would give almost anything for something cheesy and greasy right now.

Today I'm creating Art Heist magic. See you tomorrow at the Bayou City Art Festival!

Cocktail time!

My check-in buddies this morning.

I finished my four hour shift with Bayou City Art Festival around 1 p.m. Next I got pumpkins and flowers to decorate my client's booth. Then it was back to Bayou City Art Festival.

There were two women in the booth next to my client's. Unfortunately they had parked in the middle of the space and left the tailgate down. I stopped the Explorer and looked at them for a minute. They just looked at me. I was going to drive around their truck, when one of them started yelling "STOP, STOP, STOP" and waving her arms. She came to the window I had opened and said, " I'd prefer you didn't hit my truck." I replied back to her that I didn't want to hit her truck, either. What I wanted to do is run into her damn truck and tell her that I'm older and have more insurance, to quote Kathy Bates from the movie Fried Green Tomatoes.

Today I'm creating time for a nap with Roz. She looks really sleepy!

Gettin' it done

The fabrics on this messenger bag have such great texture.

I did get my sewing done yesterday. I finished all the bags I wanted to make, except for one that I didn't have the cording needed to finish the handle. I don't think there was another customer in the fabric store this morning when I arrived to get the cording.

After returning home and finishing the bag, I started on jewelry. It was difficult to sit on the floor and punch out the tin, but I didn't think it was a good idea to use the mallet on the glass-top table. I put down the jewelry and went to Mitzie's house with Dr. Mc. Then I came home, watched the last few minutes of Project Runway, and now I'm so tired I can hardly keep my eyes open.

Today I'm creating a finished membership brochure. It's at the printer. A day early. I was wrote and sent out an e-blast. And now I'm turning out the light and getting some sleep. It may be the last sleep I get for the next 72 hours.

I haven't sewn a stitch today

I made this apron in honor of
Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  

There's still time left today, but so far I haven't been to my studio. My concern is the home show that I'm participating in on Sunday afternoon. This is a Houston Heights Association item that was part of our annual Spring auction. Ladies pay to have lunch, shopping and socializing at a home. We wait until the Fall when the weather is great to have the party. I always buy a ticket to attend. The last couple of years I've also been asked to be a vendor. But when I was asked in the summer to participate as a vendor this year I didn't realize that the event was on the same day as the Bayou City Art Festival. Very poor planning on my part!

I'll have available at the home show about 20 reversible aprons, 10 totes, 10 bags and four or five ponchos. I was planning to make more bags and pillows today and make jewelry tomorrow. I don't have any pillows made, which is unfortunate because at last year's home party I sold five or six of them. All day Friday and Saturday I'll be onsite with Bayou City Art Festival. I'll also be onsite on Sunday morning and will leave the festival just in time to set up for the house party.

Today I'm creating an e-blast to go out tomorrow, writing copy for a website and taking the final photo for a brochure that's going to print on Friday. I'm glad that Mr. B decided to go out tonight with his buddy. I'm certainly no fun to be around right now!

My only excuse is that it's an extremely busy week!

I love clutch bags and need to make many more!

I didn't realize that I hadn't posted yesterday. Client meetings. Writing ads (three). Sewing. Yes, it's a busy week.

Today I worked in my studio for six hours before moving on. This evening I was at Bayou City Art Festival at 5 p.m. writing, then attended the Judges' orientation before moving on to dinner with last year's auction committee from the Houston Heights Association, a consultation meeting about a TV interview, and finally a few minutes with Mr. B. Yes, it is a VERY busy week!

Today I'm creating four aprons and two clutch bags in my studio. I told myself that I needed to focus on what I need to do between now at Sunday at 5 p.m. It worked!